Baratza Vario

birofunk

Hey Guys,

I am looking to buy a Baratza/Mahlkonig Vario online. Does anyone know where I could get one at a good price that will ship to Ireland?

I know to stay away from CaffeItalia

Apologies if a similar topic has already been posted, I couldn't find one.

Thanks in advance!

Gran Hermano

birofunk wrote: »

Hey Guys,

I am looking to buy a Baratza/Mahlkonig Vario online. Does anyone know where I could get one at a good price that will ship to Ireland?

I know to stay away from CaffeItalia

Apologies if a similar topic has already been posted, I couldn't find one.

Thanks in advance!

Try Coffee Angel in Dublin
http://www.coffeeangel.com/en/products-page

or Hasbean in UK
http://www.hasbean.co.uk/categories/Grinders-and-Machines/

birofunk

Perfect! Thanks Gran

PPC

+1 for Coffee Angel.
Bought mine online on the way to work and picked it up at lunch time, great service.

dakar

Another +1 for Coffeeangel, faultless service.

birofunk

Picking it up tommorow!

birofunk

+1 for CoffeeAngel, delighted with the service and the grinder is the dogs proverbials!

PPC

Good to hear.

I found the sweet spot for espresso was one notch down on the right and in the bottom 1/3 on the left. Then adjust the left depending on the bean.

For filter i've found one notch above filter seems to do the job.

birofunk

That's pretty much where I am on the espresso side, managed to pull a near perfect shot last night with the Coffee Angel espresso beans..beautiful!

donnacha

Another +1 for coffeeangel

I did need to adjust my mahlkonig slightly to give me a bit more room on the espresso side - its fairly easy with an allen key, link below just in case any of you experience this same problem or want a bit more room on the espresso side
http://www.home-barista.com/grinders/recalibrating-baratza-vario-t10282.html

birofunk

Thanks for the link. I had no problem grinding for my Krups machine, but I finally got a Silvia the other day and I can't get the Vario fine enough (pulling 20 second shots at the finest setting). Will give this fix a shot

donnacha

hi birofunk - hopefully that mod on your mahlkonig will help.

As an fyi there is a wealth of info online about reducing the pressure on your silvia. unfortunately they come from the factory set closer to 11/12 bar and ideally you should be reducing it down somewhere between 9 to 10 bar - you'll get much better shots and it would reduce the bitterness that comes from the higher pressure setting:

http://www.home-barista.com/tips/adjusting-rancilio-silvia-v3-opv-t11158.html

birofunk

Hi Donnacha, I actually didn't end up needing to mod the Vario. After a couple of bags of coffee the Silvia is pouring 2oz shots in about 25 seconds. I have the macro setting up to the top, and the micro setting a little over half way down. Maybe the machine just needed to be loosened up?

That link is very interesting. Did you test the pressure of your Silvia before doing this, or did you do it blind like in the home barista link?

Doodee

Having recently done so myself I would definately recommend changing the pressure on your Silvia. Makes a world of difference.
Have you a naked PF also?

birofunk

Hey, no naked PF yet...the bank balance simply won't allow for it. It's been getting a hammering of late!

I'm defo going to change the pressure, I want to try and get my hands on a pressure gauge first though because I would be worried about doing it blind and guessing the pressure wrong.

donnacha

I did look into building my own pressure gauge but then ended up just doing it blind and got some excellent results - though I have no idea what the pressure is now. Next purchase for me is going to be a blind portafilter - the birthday is coming up soon so I've persuaded the missus to buy one for me

GRINDER*MAN

Birofunk - you're welcome to borrow the pressure gauge....

Doodee - do you wanna jump in here & arrange a handover with Birofunk?

I would like it back at some stage tho gents!! It took me ages to source all the bits n bobs.

Donnacha - you're welcome to borrow also if you want to test & be sure you're at 9bar. I'm in DL also, so a handover so should be no hassle

Doodee

GRINDER*MAN wrote: »

Birofunk - you're welcome to borrow the pressure gauge....

Doodee - do you wanna jump in here & arrange a handover with Birofunk?

I would like it back at some stage tho gents!! It took me ages to source all the bits n bobs.

Donnacha - you're welcome to borrow also if you want to test & be sure you're at 9bar. I'm in DL also, so a handover so should be no hassle

Yeah that's no problem. If Biofunk wants to PM me his digits I'm sure we can arrange something.

You can also try doing the Backflush method. This gives rather good results due to the Ulka pump being rather reliable.
See here for more info: http://coffee.hastie.id.au/pressure-mod-and-calibration-for-silvia

birofunk

Ah thanks lads, I truly appreciate that.

Doodee you have a pm!

donnacha

Deadly I'll patiently wait my turn

birofunk

doodee dropped the gauge down over the weekend, nice one man.

Unfortunately no luck getting the spout of the portafilter so haven't been able to test it yet

donnacha

A wrench should loosen off the spout for your portafilter - fairly important you give that a go as for cleaning purposes you'll have a build up in that needs regular attention.

birofunk

I tired a wrench,leaving it in cafiza overnight, heating it, steaming it, putting it in the freezer. No dice. Only result I have gotten is a few nasty scratches

alastair

birofunk wrote: »

I tired a wrench,leaving it in cafiza overnight, heating it, steaming it, putting it in the freezer. No dice. Only result I have gotten is a few nasty scratches

Have you access to a vice? It took a fair bit of effort to get mine open - iirc I had to go the vice and wrench route.

GRINDER*MAN

If you don't have a vice, you could try wrapping the spout in some thick cloth to protect it, & then hit it with a hammer to loosen/break the seal, then a wrench should do the job...it worked for me, albeit with a few scratches